Review by Death8699 on September 25, 2018.

This is some straight-forward brutal death metal from the cold arctic regions of Sweden. Formed in 1991, they put out their first full-length entitled Rated-X which hasn't gotten much press, till this day. But here, they're back, with this utmost chilling brutality Struck By A Murderous Siege. They have sort of a blues type vibe to their metal that is cool and rather catchy. The vocals never really change and since this is the only album I've heard from the band, I can't compare it to how they've sounded in the past, but this album is pretty fresh with good ideas on the musical front.

There are 4 members on this release, all doing a great job putting out riffs that are catchy, but brutal. That blues vibe is felt in the lead guitar department and the licks are also sort of groove-laden. A lot of pinch harmonics in the riffs and muted guitar crunch-tone. 

I think this band has a lot of energy and they know how to be brutal. The songwriting structure is quite straightforward and heavy, the vocals never change and the leads are somewhat technical (from a guitarist's point of view). Every song sort of tells a story. I'm not sure if that's what they wanted it to be like but that's what it sure as heck seems like. But their concepts consist of murders, death, gore, violence and of criminals. No surprise there with a name for a band like theirs. My guess is, stay away from reading the lyrics.

Some songs to check out are "The Frail Illusion of Osteology", "Cold Icy Hands" and "Toy Box Torture Chamber." Definitely check out this band and the album. It that was released in 2016 and it's truly great!

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Review by Jack on October 13, 2001.

Garm. Does everything he touch turns to gold? Borknagar: 2 great albums. Arcturus: 2 awesome albums. Ulver: 5 ridiculously talented opuses. “La Masquerade Infernale” is the second full length album, from a band that was noted for a rather dark and gloomy first effort with “Aspera Hiems Symfonia”. No one could have predicted this oddball album being released as follow up effort.

“La Masquerade Infernale” follows up “Aspera Hiems Symfonia” with a few similar points of reference. These points of reference are that Arcturus still use Garm’s hymnals and outstanding instrumental collaborations that were present on the debut. That is where the similarities stop, “La Masquerade Infernale” is a completely new and innovative metal album.

To describe the musical content in this epic would be like trying to give a seminar on the concept of global politics to a mute dog.

Everything you thought metal stood for should be wiped from the slate. Death growls, fancy melodic death guitar work from Gothenburg bands, hyper keyboard solos from black metal, although all fine parts of metal... you should erase any misconceptions and precognition about metal from your mind. Enter the world of a dark classical metal opera without any expectations and prepare yourself for what is one of the most outstanding and obscure albums ever created.

“La Masquerade Infernale” is a very keyboard sample driven concept with various classical styling thrown in at almost every track. It is almost as though Arcturus (as musicians) has taken a back seat and let their music grow around the keyboard.

Arcturus’ “La Masquerade Infernale” is puzzling in what it sets out to achieve as a record. Many hundreds of ideas are thrust forward to a palette of whirling colors. A black metal symphony? A phantasms’ opera? Or a horrific, vampiric tragedy? The truth maybe that Arcturus tried to achieve none of the above, all of the above or a combination of the above with other theatrical dealings. The “La Masquerade Infernale” experience will be different for each person who chooses to consume this outstanding product. For me; the “La Masquerade Infernale” experience was an Elizabethan tragedy in the vein of Shakespeare’s MacBeth, whilst holding a very true contemporary urban aristocratic feel.

This is a concept driven album (whatever concept that is, perhaps it is up to the listener to kindle his/her own concept) and as such, “La Masquerade Infernale” holds no stand out tracks. No killer, no filler.

Bottom Line: Arcturus is an enigma, much like Ulver with their doppleganging efforts. Who would know what they would come up with next? You would have to have incredible insight to foresee what Arcturus would come up with after their 3 albums. ”La Masquerade Infernale” is just light-years away from whatever us normal folks could possibly perceive from a metal band. Compulsory purchase.

Rating: 9 out of 10